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Fri Oct 15, 2004 1:22 pm

Ok, at first I didn't notice my Generator Light wasn't coming on when I started my car so I kept driving my bug until the battery completely died on me. Went to a shop and talked to a couple of people and they told me to check all my wiring. Turns out that the Positive battery cable to the starter was loose. I tightened it and jumped the car, YES!! Now the Idiot light was coming on when it started. I'm driving my car for about 2 weeks and then the generator light goes out again and eventually kills my battery to where it won't start. I check for loose wires and I find nothing. Am I missing a spot where I should check? How many cables should be runnning from the alternator to the battery? Right now, I have only one cable from the alternator to the postive point on the starter.

Basically, what are the main cables I need to check? Your help would be greatly appreciated.

Fri Oct 15, 2004 1:27 pm

You shouldn't drive with the gen light on, because it means the battery is slowly being discharged, to the point where it dies completely. So those two weeks you were driving with the gen light on were just borrowed time.

Possible causes of a discharging battery could be a too-loose fan belt, loose battery connection (you took care of that), a failing alternator (use a voltmeter to check how much voltage it's putting out), a bad voltage regulator (I don't know how to check that), a short somewhere or a steady drain on the battery (with the car off, measure voltage at the battery to see if it's discharging).

But above all don't drive with that light on.

On a long shot, if the bulb in the gen light is burned out, the alternator will not charge the battery. You don't seem to have that problem, though, because the gen light bulb does appear to be working.

Fri Oct 15, 2004 1:48 pm

79SuperVert wrote: You shouldn't drive with the gen light on, because it means the battery is slowly being discharged, to the point where it dies completely. So those two weeks you were driving with the gen light on were just borrowed time.

Possible causes of a discharging battery could be a too-loose fan belt, loose battery connection (you took care of that), a failing alternator (use a voltmeter to check how much voltage it's putting out), a bad voltage regulator (I don't know how to check that), a short somewhere or a steady drain on the battery (with the car off, measure voltage at the battery to see if it's discharging).

But above all don't drive with that light on.

On a long shot, if the bulb in the gen light is burned out, the alternator will not charge the battery. You don't seem to have that problem, though, because the gen light bulb does appear to be working.

Sorry, I meant to say that the Gen Light doesn't come on when I start it. Before it'll come on and then turn off but now it won't even come on when I start. But thanks, I'll check out the all the things that you mentioned.

Fri Oct 15, 2004 1:59 pm

Then definitely also check the speedo gen light bulb. Swap it with the oil light to see if the bulb lights up. If the bulb is burned out the alt will not charge the battery.

Fri Oct 15, 2004 2:14 pm

79SuperVert wrote: Then definitely also check the speedo gen light bulb. Swap it with the oil light to see if the bulb lights up. If the bulb is burned out the alt will not charge the battery.

Ok, now the Idiot light omes on, THANKS 79! But I think the battery is keeled over. I gotta wait till my gf comes home so I can jump it.

Fri Oct 15, 2004 10:41 pm

I replaced the battery but the engine still won't turn :cry: i found out that's its a starter issue.

Mon Oct 18, 2004 7:19 am

How did you find that out?

Tue Nov 16, 2004 3:09 am

"If the bulb is burned out the alt will not charge the battery."

I would have never guessed that.

Tue Nov 16, 2004 5:20 am

Neither would I. I learned that here on thesamba! :D

Tue Nov 16, 2004 1:32 pm

still 6 volt?? if not and you go to buy a starter get one for autostick instead of 4 speed. turns over faster and no bushing needed. bad bushing can cause starting problems...